Short answers about damp

Condensation. The 2024 English Housing Survey put serious condensation or mould at 3% of homes, ahead of penetrating damp at 2% and rising damp at 1%.

Possibly, but earth or paving raised against the outside, a split downpipe or mortar bridging the damp course leave the same mark. How it is proved is on the rising damp page.

Cleaning takes off the mould, not the moisture it lives on. It comes back until the surface stays warmer or the room drier, as the bedroom condensation guide explains.

Rain getting in: a gutter, downpipe, chimney, pointing or render, usually. See penetrating damp for where to look first.

Yes, in low-lying parts of the city. Groundwater under the floodplain can sit less than a metre down in winter, and it flooded homes and basements in 2000, 2003 and 2007.

No. In brick and stone a meter only compares one spot with another, and salts can make a dry wall read wet. An actual moisture figure comes from drilled samples.

A specialist looks at the areas flagged, takes samples where needed and reports on cause and remedy. Arrange a damp survey and give us your solicitor's or lender's deadline.

The Property Care Association offers three: CSTDB (formerly CSRT) covering timber and dampness, CSDB covering dampness only, and CSSW for structural waterproofing below ground.

Yes, and the report will say so. Clearing a gutter, lowering a path or fixing a fan is a perfectly good outcome.

It must be declared: joint guidance from 2022, backed by RICS, Historic England and the PCA, expects the report to state any such interest. SPAB and RICS also suggest an independent second opinion.

Often. In Oxford, consent covers any work inside or out that affects the building's special character, including repairs in different materials. There is no fee. See old and listed buildings.

On a solid wall built with lime, it can be. The Oxford HEET guide lists cement that is not water-permeable as incompatible with traditional walls, and Historic England warns that hard, impermeable finishes can trap moisture.

Sometimes, but it is rarely the first answer. The Oxford HEET guide warns there may be issues with adding a damp course to some traditional walls, so the cause has to be proved first.

Inside the house, usually not. Outside, changes to the look of the building can need permission, and Jericho and Osney Town have their own Article 4 directions.

That depends on the wall and how wet it got. Checkatrade says a very damp wall may take 6 to 12 months to dry fully, which is why replastering is not rushed.

It helps where the moisture is made, in kitchens and bathrooms. Bedrooms and whole houses may need more: steadier heating, better background ventilation, or a different system.

No. Industry guidance from the Property Care Association asks for evidence of current activity before treatment, since the beetles behind many holes are long dead. Fresh exit holes and bore dust are the signs of activity.

Often, if the waterproofing type suits the intended use and the water around it. BS 8102 describes three types; basement tanking explains them.

The landlord, once told. Report it in writing with photos and allow 14 days; after that, the city council's Residential Regulation Team can inspect.

In Oxford, yes: every privately rented home has to be licensed, under selective licensing to August 2027 and a city-wide scheme for shared houses.

Not yet. Social landlords have been bound by it since 27 October 2025; the government's consultation on private renting runs until 18 December 2026. More in the Awaab's Law guide.

Find the cause and fix it, and keep a written record of what was found and done. A diagnosis in writing shows the problem was dealt with properly.

Checkatrade puts the national average at £300 within a £100 to £600 range (November 2024); MyBuilder's undated guide says £150 to £500. Neither is our price; the cost guide has more.

Usually because they have diagnosed different causes. Which? recommends three or more quotes, and independent advice when they clash.

Any fee is agreed over the phone before the appointment is made.

Checkatrade puts average treatment at £500 to £1,000 (updated September 2024). Our woodworm cost guide explains when it is not needed at all.